Improvement in folding chairs



ZSheets-Sheet 1.

B. F.. LITTLE. FOLDING-CHAIR.

Patented. Feb.8,1876.

N. PETERS. FHOTO-UTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED r STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. LITTLE, OF NORWICH, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,310, dated February 8, 1876 application filed 1 January 3, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LITTLE, of Norwich, in the county of Ghenango and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fold` ing Chairs; and'do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to'the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my chair opened and arranged for use, and Fig. 2 is a` like view of said chair folded together and ar-` ranged for storage. v

Letters of like name and vkind refer to like parts in each of the igures.

The design of my invention is to increase the efeiency, strength, and ease of operation of a folding chair; 'and to this end it consists in the combination of the legs, back, and stretcher-frame, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specied.

In the annexed drawings, A and A represent two bars, which are arranged in parallel lines by means of two cross bars or rungs, B and B', that are placed near, and extend between, their ends.

The frame thus constructed is pivoted at or near the longitudinal center of the bars A and A to two similar, but longer, bars,'G and C, which latter are placed upon the outside of the former,and are connected together, near their lower ends, by means of a rung, l). Between the upper ends of the bars C and C is pivoted a frame, which is composed of two side bars, E and E, a crossbar, F, that extends between their upper ends, and two cross-bars, G and H, which extend between said parts, near their longitudinal centers. A bar, I, pivoted near its lower end to the lower lend, at the outer side, of each side bar A, and provided, within its upper portion, with a longitudinal slot, t', which receives, and loosely contains, a screw or pin, K, that is secured within, and extends outward from, the lower end of the bar E, completes the frame. while the chair is completed by means of a iiexible seat, L, that is secured at its ends to the rungs B and EI, and extends between the same, and, if desired, a

flexible covering or back', M, which extends between, and is fastened to, the cross-bars F and G.

When the chair thus constructed is opened and arranged for use, as shown by Fig. l, the upper end of each bar or back leg I bears against the rear lower side of the corresponding bar or front leg C, while the lower end of each side bar E of the back frame rests upon the upper rear side of the corresponding bar A, and the pin or screw K of said bar E Abears upon, or within, the lower end of its slot i.

Each part thus combined operates to brace and strengthen the others, while the flexible seat L performs the double oftice of a seat and a stay, to'limit the motion of the upper end ofthe .stretcher-frameaway from the back frame. v

I-f desired, for the purpose of giving additional strength to the chair when opened, a dowel-pin, may be secured within the upper end, of each back leg I, and within the lower end of each bar G, and corresponding recesses, for the reception of said pins, formed within the portions against which said ends abut, by which means the latter will be firmly held in place, and the pivotal bearings relieved from much strain.

When not in use the chair may be caused to occupy comparatively little space by folding the stretcher-frame and back frame together, as seen in Fig. 2, by which operation the back legs will be folded against, and be parallel to, the rear side of the front legs.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s- The l1ereinbefore-described chair consisting of the stretcher-frame A, A, B, and B', the front legs C and C', the back frame E, E, F, G, and H, the rear legs I and I, provided with the slats c' and t', the studs or pins K and K,- and the seat L, said parts being combined to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as specied.

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of November, 1875.

BENJAMIN F. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

H. G. PRINDLE, GEO. A. THoMAs. 

